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Dates, times, and locations are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen conditions. Please RSVP and check your email for updates!
For past event videos and recordings of webinars, click here!
Wed
Mar
27
Meet ornithologist and cinematographer Jacob Steinberg, and marvel at the way he captured a year in the life of an Osprey couple.
Price: FREE
WHEN: Wed., March 27, 6:30-8:30 pm WHERE: Salem State University WHAT: Marvel at this inside look into the lives of an Osprey pair in this masterpiece of natural history filmmaking. Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Jacob Steinberg will answer questions after the film.
Thu
Mar
28
This gentle walk for seniors will explore the concept of animal habitats with a local naturalist.
Price: FREE
WHEN: Thurs., March 28 9:30-11:00 am WHERE: Kamon Farm, Ipswich Enjoy a leisurely walk with naturalist educator Laurie Hark at this working farm with picturesque trails and benches. Laurie will lead the group to examine the environment carefully and uncover the many animal habitats that can be found in fields and forests. N.B. Gently sloping trail with occasional benches. Terrain is packed dirt with grassy sections.
Tue
Apr
02
Webinar with Dr. Nick Dorian, presented by West Newbury Wild and Native, hosted by Greenbelt.
Price: FREE
WHEN: Tuesday, April 2 at 6:00 pm WHERE: On Zoom. Please RSVP to receive the link! WHAT: Description: Over the past two decades there has been a swell of enthusiasm for pollinator gardening in the United States. Depending on where you look, the advice for how to best help pollinators can vary greatly, and can sometimes lead to confusion. In this talk, we’ll learn the fundamentals and the science of pollinator gardening. We’ll learn which pollinators gardens can attract, what floral and nesting resources those pollinators need, and what actions you can take to ensure their needs are met in every season. Whether you are a seasoned native gardener, or just starting out on your pollinator garden journey, this talk will have something new for you! Bio: Dr. Nick Dorian is an ecologist, an educator, and a naturalist. He received his Ph.D. from Tufts University where he studied the ecology and conservation of wild bees. At Tufts, Nick also co-founded and ran the Tufts Pollinator Initiative (sites.tufts.edu/pollinators), which worked to build capacity for community-based pollinator conservation through habitat creation, place-based education, and ecological research. Currently, Nick is a post-doctoral researcher at the Chicago Botanic Garden where he studies how to integrate optimize pollinator gardens for biodiversity conservation.
Sat
Apr
06
Meet the animals making all that noise in small ponds in the woods!
Price: FREE
WHEN: Saturday, April 6 10:00-11:30 am WHERE: Greenbelt's Farnsworth Reservation, North Andover This event, led by North Shore Nature Programs, is for families with children of all ages! What sound do frogs make? Turns out, they make a lot of different sounds! Come meet the residents of the vernal pools to learn who says ribbit, quack, chirp, peep and more! We recommend all participants wear rubber boots, as the woods can be quite soggy this time of year!
Sun
Apr
14
Free introductory nature sketching class, en plein air at a Greenbelt reservation!
Price: FREE
WHEN: Sunday, April 14, 1:00-3:00 pm WHERE: Bailey Reservation, Haverhill WHAT: Join teachers from Slow River Studio to learn to sketch from life out in nature.
Thu
Apr
25
Use your senses to experience the signs of spring in this naturalist-led walk for seniors.
Price: FREE
WHEN: Thurs., April 25 9:30-11:00 am WHERE: Greenbelt's Alt Reservation, Beverly Join naturalist Laurie Hark for this monthly exploration of the natural world. Along this gentle walk, you'll explore new spring plants and awakening animals along vernal pools. N.B. Trails are gently rolling, mostly packed dirt, with a few longer up/downhills.
WHEN: Saturday, May 4 9:00 am to noon WHERE: Exact starting location will depend on number of signups and trail conditions. Please RSVP if you are interested so we know who to send the route info to and how many people we may expect! A volunteer team goes out and rides the routes in advance to check conditions and we share the Strava and/or Ride with GPS route with the group in advance. At the event, we'll split into groups based on expected pace and a volunteer leader will take each group out for their ride! All levels welcome! Please make sure you have a repair kit, water/electrolyte drink, snacks and clothing appropriate for the weather-- and of course a gravel bike! Questions? Email jane@ecga.org. We hope you'll join us! Photo: David Alden-St. Pierre
Sat
May
18
Bring the whole family to this fun day to learn about how animals and flowers work together!
Price: FREE
WHEN: Saturday, May 18 10:00 am to 1:00 pm (rain date Sunday, May 19) WHERE: Cox Reservation 82 Eastern Ave. Essex, MA WHAT: This show and tell event introduces children of all ages to the importance of bees and other pollinators. Fun and educational activities scattered around the property. Activities provided by: Greenbelt, Essex County Beekeepers Association, The Monarch Gardener, and North Shore Nature Programs. Bathrooms will be available. Bring a picnic and come enjoy the day!
Thu
May
30
An outing for seniors to take a gentle stroll and learn about vernal pools.
Price: FREE
WHEN: Thurs., May 30 9:30-11:00 am WHERE: Vineyard Hill Reservation, Hamilton WHAT: Join guide Laurie Hark on this gentle walk to discover a vernal pool and learn about its inhabitants.
Sun
Jun
02
No long hike necessary! Bring a camp chair or borrow one of ours!
Price: FREE
WHEN: Sun., June 2 9:00-10:30 am WHERE: Kamon Farm Pineswamp Road, Ipswich, MA WHAT: This birding outing is specifically geared toward folks who can walk short distances and then prefer to sit for the birdwatching! The distance from the parking area to the area where we will watch birds is approximately 30 feet, across flat, wide, packed dirt trail, with some grassy areas. We will set up overlooking a large field surrounded by forest. You may wish to bring a notebook and pencil, a bird ID book, and/or your fully charged phone to take notes! Birder Laura Vehring will guide us in our observations and provide advice and instruction. All birding levels welcome! If you have a camp chair you prefer to use, please bring it with you. If not, let us know in advance and we will bring a folding chair for you! We also have a limited number of binoculars to loan out to those who do not have a pair! You can email jane@ecga.org to request a chair or binoculars. RSVP required and group size limited to guarantee parking close to the observation area. Further questions about the terrain, location, or accessibility? Email jane@ecga.org or call her at 978-768-7241, extension 117. Photo: Lynne Holton
Sun
Jun
09
Free introductory nature sketching class, en plein air at a Greenbelt reservation!
Price: FREE
WHEN: Sun., June 9 10:00 am to noon WHERE: Lynn Woods (RSVP to receive exact parking and meetup location!) WHAT: Join teachers from Slow River Studio to learn to sketch from life out in nature.
WHEN: Fri., June 14 and Sat., June 15 WHERE: Greenbelt's Cox Reservation 82 Eastern Ave. Essex, MA WHAT: Shop for paintings, collages, pastels, sculpture, ceramics, blown glass, fine woodworking, stonework and more! All purchases support Greenbelt's conservation work in Essex County! Shopping open to the public Friday and Saturday - No RSVP required! Free parking and free to attend! Schedule: Friday, June 14 Morning hours: 10:00-3:00 Closed 3:00-5:00 Evening Party and Shopping Hours: 5:00-8:30 pm (Artist Meet & Greet: 6:00 pm) Saturday, June 15 All Day Shopping: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm For more information, see ecga.org/artinthebarn
Thu
Jun
27
Learn about the witchy history of the Echo and Elizabeth How Reservations in Ipswich at this event geared toward seniors!
Price: FREE
WHEN: Thurs., June 27 9:30-11:00 am WHERE: Echo and Elizabeth How Reservations, Ipswich WHAT: Learn about both the human and natural history of these adjacent reservations with guide Laurie Hark. NOTE: This walk is geared toward seniors and is a very gentle stroll, EXCEPT for one section of about 15 feet uphill and then 15 feet downhill at the very start. You may wish to bring trekking poles, if this type of terrain can be a challenge. We will take it slow!
Some events in the 2024 Film & Lecture Series will be in person, others will be virtual.
82 Eastern Avenue
PO Box 1026
Essex, MA 01929
e. Contact by Email
p. 978.768.7241
Greenbelt thanks the photographers whose work is featured prominently on our website: Jerry Monkman, Dorothy Monnelly, Adrian Scholes, David Alden St. Pierre & Neil Ungerleider